Tanganyika / Tanzania

This chapter covers stamps issued from 1917 to the present day and inscribed in any of the following ways:

GEA, overprinted on stamps of East Africa and Uganda Protectorates (1917-22)

Tanganyika or Mandated Territory of Tanganyika (1922-current)

Tanzania (1980s-current)

Stamps inscribed 'Kenya Uganda and Tanganyika' were valid for fiscal use in Tanganyika from 1935 until the 1960s. These are listed under East Africa and Uganda - Kenya and Uganda - KUT.

Tanganyika was united with Zanzibar in 1968 to form independent Tanzania. All Stamp Duty adhesives issued since then are inscribed 'Tanganyika', and it is unclear whether they have been valid in Zanzibar. Other revenue adhesives have been inscribed either 'Tanzania' or 'Zanzibar Revolutionary Government'; the latter are listed under Zanzibar.

A27. 800s on 500s purple A28. 1000s on 800s on 500s purple A31. 1000s on 500s purple A32. 1000s on 800s goldNote: there is some variation in the size and format of overprints. The overprint on A31 measures approx 18 x 4 mm and is in violet, with two bars in '1000/='. The overprint on A32 is slightly smaller at 14 x 3 mm and is in black, with only one bar in 1000/-. Of the two examples I have seen of A28, one has the original values (both 500 and 800) deleted in manuscript and one does not.

There is currently no listing here for Tanzania Excise labels but I refer readers to Andrey Vasiunin's excellent website Tax Stamps Collection.

Impressed revenue stamps

Set of proofs in vermilion with high values denominated in florins

Illustrated here are proofs for impressed stamps denominated from 6 cents to 10 florins, all in vermilion. The florin was introduced on 31st July 1920 as a replacement for the East African rupee, and was replaced by the East African shilling (1 florin = 2 shillings) at the end of 1921, suggesting that these proofs were prepared during this brief period. No other examples have been recorded to date, and it is not known whether these were ever issued.

​Note: illustrated above is a master proof denominated SHILLINGS with a blank space above to allow a number to be added. Z2 was evidently produced using this die, which explains why the word SHILLINGS is plural despite being only a 1s value.

The first printing of this stamp was despatched to Tanganyika in August 1934, with subsequent printings being sent in July/August 1935, May/June 1936 and March 1937. The final printing (Req 1322/2) was delayed by a British constitutional crisis. When the Crown Agents commissioned the printing (25th November 1936), they specified that the stamps should feature the head of King Edward VIII, but on 10th December he abdicated and George VI became king. It was seen as inappropriate to go ahead with the Edward VIII stamps but a new George VI head plate would not be ready for some months, so on 17th December the Crown Agents wrote to De La Rue and directed that the printing should be carried out using the old King George V head plate.

K3, K3a and K4

1938-49. Similar type but portrait changed to King George VI, and new value (50c) in small format 18½ x 22½ mm. Perf 14. Watermark Multiple Script CA.

The first perf 14 printing of the 1s was despatched to Tanganyika in October/November 1937, so it presumed that it was issued in early 1938. This was then reprinted in 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1945 and 1948, then finally (with the change to perf 13) in 1950. The 50c and 5s were each printed only once, in 1938 and 1949 respectively. The existence of the 50c is known from archives, though no issued examples have yet been recorded.

Note: proofs were approved on 26th September 1962, and the first printing of all values was sent to Tanganyika on 9th January 1963. The 10s and 20s have not yet been recorded as issued stamps except the 10s overprinted for Stamp Duty.

b) Inscribed in English PORT SERVICE CHARGE (FOREIGNERS); denominated in US dollars

P2. $5 purple

Revenue usage of dual-purpose Postage and Revenue stampsNote: for ease of reference, numbering follows the Stanley Gibbons Part 1 catalogue throughout this section. Values listed here are those recorded as having been used for revenue purposes.

R45/60a (image of R61 to be added)

1917-21. King George V stamps inscribed East Africa and Uganda Protectorates, overprinted G.E.A. for use in former German East Africa. Perf 14. Wmk Multiple Crown CA.

Notes:1. The first printing of this issue was printed in December 1949, though no dispatch date is recorded in the Crown Agents Requisition books. A second printing of the 10c, 20c, 50c, 1s and 5s was sent to Tanganyika in March 1950, and a final reprint of all eight values was dispatched in June 1950.2. Three additional values (3s, 40s and 50s) were listed in the original requisition but cancelled prior to proof stage.3. The 2s is known postally used.

Note: the 10c, 1s and 2s were first sent to Tanganyika in April/May 1954 (Req 2047/1). The other values were added later under new requisitions - 50c (Req 9310/1), 20c (Req 2230/1) and finally 5s (Req number unknown). Gibson lists a 10s value but it clear from the archives that no such denomination was issued.

Notes:1. The date of issue is derived from the dispatch dates for the first printing (see below). Gibson & Hieatt state that the 20s was not issued until the early 1980s (along with a new shade of the 10s) but this goes against the Req books data, which clearly show that all eight values from 10c to 20s were issued together. I suspect that the watermarked stamps (S34a, S37a and S38a) were issued later than the 1983 surcharges since the surcharged stamps are all unwatermarked.2. Barefoot lists a 3s, but this value was never ordered.3. The 10c is known with postal cancel.4. Gibson & Hieatt note that these stamps (and the subsequent issues listed below) were used only in Tanganyika and not in Zanzibar, even after the unification of the two territories in 1965 to form Tanzania.5. For higher values (50s and 100s) in a slightly redrawn design, see S51/2 below.

Notes:1. The year of printing is shown in the sheet margins at the foot of the stamp. The following imprint dates have been recorded: 1s (1985, 1986, 1991, March 1994), 2s (1991, March 1994, September 1994), 5s (1985, 1991, March 1994), 10s (1991, December 1993), 20s (1992, September 1994).2. S67a is a constant plate variety, occurring on the penultimate stamp in the top row of the sheet.3. Most values are known in a wide range of shades.4. For 500s value (as listed by Barefoot) in slightly revised type, see S91/a below.